 Poster: A snowHead
|
Hi folks,
Sorry for my first post containing a few questions, but being in IT I class myself as a professional Googler, but I've been unable to find enough reviews and experiences from people that have stayed in Innsbruck city centre and traveled to the ski areas by public transport. Any help or advice offered by the knowledgeable posters here will be greatly appreciated!
We're arriving around 11am, and I was thinking that with the various resorts on offer that it would suit us to sort out our equipment hire in the city centre so that we weren't tied to a particular area.
We're a group of four, three of which have around 5 weeks under our belts and one who's a 1-weeker, so we'll be happy with the intermediate fare that the resorts seem to offer.
On the first day I know that we'll have missed the buses, but we're hoping that we can sneak in a few hours skiing to warm up for the remaining couple of days.
I've seen that the funicular seems to go up to Seegrube, but I get the impression that it's a very steep area, one for the experts, certainly not suited to us. Does it stop anywhere else that we can ski?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
On your first day just take the bus up to Axamer Lizum and play - plenty for your more experienced people to use to get their legs working and the 1-weeker will have a blast coming down the Ladies Downhill run.
After that - Stubai has to be on the list as does the Nordkette although your 1-weeker may find that a wee bit too much for them!
clarky999 is the local expert as he lives in Innsbruck
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
NBraithers, This season hasn't seen as much snow as usual, though the quality of what's around is actually fine. You can't ski all the way down to the base of Nordkette (Seegrube is the middle station) at the moment, so it would definitely be a bit limited for your one weeker. Other than the ski routes (two of which are pretty steep, though well worth doing - I haven't seen any other marked and avalanche controlled runs that provide the same sort of experience anywhere else) you have one black piste which has a blue variant winding to the side and then across it. Plus the park, and v short blue running next to it. If you only have a couple of hours after sorting your equipment though it would still be ok, and you could have a few beers afterwards in the iglu overlooking the city (very good views).
This is one of the ski routes a couple of days ago:
The next option for that afternoon would be Patscherköfel, a lot more pisted skiing on offer, and about 15 mins on the bus from the city centre. You want the bus route J; it runs along museumstraße, the main street through the centre. Nordkette is on one end of the route and Patscherköfel on the other. Should be a bus about every 20 mins at that time of day. It's also free when you're going skiing.
As Sue said Axamer Lizum is also an option. It's one of my favourite resorts around here with great views of the Kalkkögel mountains, but the bus takes a little longer (30 mins or so) and I don't think it runs as frequently as the J. Best bet would be to get it from the Hauptbahnhof (main train station), though I think it would be better to save Axamer for when you have a whole day.
Stubai should definitely be on your list too, the bus leaves from the train station and takes a little over an hour. As it's a bit further south they have more snow at the moment (300cms), and with recent top ups the condition should be excellent. Save it for a fair weather day - it can be a bit miserable with low visibility unless you know it well, and you don't want to miss the views!
Do you have your ski hire sorted? If not I highly recommend Die Börse - small independent shop near the city centre (just past the Triumphforte or however you spell it - the big archway monument at the top end of Mariahilfestraße, the street which doubles as the city square). Great staff who speak excellent English: http://winter.dieboerse.at/en/rental.html (save 10% with online booking)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Wow! Those replies are all extremely helpful. Thank you all for taking the time to write, especially you Matt, with such a comprehensive reply. Much appreciated!
The info about the independent ski shop is great, because if we can get that sorted in advance then we can get as much skiing in as possible. Are there lockers at the resorts, or is it boots on from the city centre?
I've read old reviews of the bus service to the resorts that says it can be a bit hit and miss. Is that still the case or has it improved?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
No worries.
The busses are always bang on time; they work really well. You can use this site to check the times: http://www.ivb.at/en/home.html?no_cache=1
Not too sure about lockers, sorry. Stubai has them, but I don't know about the others.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We did a long weekend a couple of years ago.
The buses are good but it's best to choose a hotel on the bus routes,we stayed in the Sailer which is good value and has single rooms at a reasonable cost if you need them, we have booked flights to Innsbruck for March and were going to stay there but in view of the huge amounts of snow in the Dolimites have now booked in Selva.
Whilst you are there you might also like to have a look at Khutai (where The Jump was filmed) it's about an hour by bus, very high and snow sure.
We had a great day there and even though it is mainly red runs your 1 weeker should not find it too difficult.
Innsbruck has a nice compact centre with plenty of good bars and places to eat with a casino if that's your thing however you will do well to find any Après.
Prices were much cheaper than up mountain though with a pint as low as 1 euro (bear in mind this was 2/3 years ago).
A very different ski holiday but very enjoyable
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
We spent last week in Neustift and skied at axamer lizum, schlick 2000 and stubai. Conditions were pretty good at all of them, excellent at stubai.. we skied right back to the car park from the top of the glacier. Been to Innsbruck a few times in the past and loved it, as above, good bars and food, prices cheap compared to any big uk city.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'm off to Innsbruck on Monday. My 8th time in 4 years - love it!
Haven't time to read all replies but Patscherkofl is fine for first day. Schlick is my favourite local resort - 60 mins by tram or take the free ski bus. The scenery is beautiful - similar to the Dolomites.
I don't think anyone's mentioned it but I'd also consider Mutters for your first day as you can take the STB tram there every 30 mins throughout the day. There isn't tons of skiing but enough for your first afternoon. It's linked to Gotzens too, and it's a great novelty being able to take the tram there and back (a 30 minute journey).
You can see all the resorts around Innsbruck pretty clearly on the SkiRail Map of the Alps www.rogerlascellesmaps.co.uk/SkiRail_Map_Main.aspx and the iTunes app https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/the-alps-ski-resort-rail-map/id610342489?mt=8
You can also go to Bergeralm on the train (Steinach station) which is only 20 mins from Innsbruck. Looks good from the piste map and an easy 10 minute walk from the station, although I haven't been there yet (lining it up for Monday afternoon - we land Monday morning).
Innsbruck is fantastic - you'll have a great trip!
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
I'm off to Innsbruck on Monday. My 8th time in 4 years - love it!
Haven't time to read all replies but Patscherkofl is fine for first day. Schlick is my favourite local resort - 60 mins by tram or take the free ski bus. The scenery is beautiful - similar to the Dolomites.
I don't think anyone's mentioned it but I'd also consider Mutters for your first day as you can take the STB tram there every 30 mins throughout the day. There isn't tons of skiing but enough for your first afternoon. It's linked to Gotzens too, and it's a great novelty being able to take the tram there and back (a 30 minute journey).
You can see all the resorts around Innsbruck pretty clearly on the SkiRail Map of the Alps www.rogerlascellesmaps.co.uk/SkiRail_Map_Main.aspx and the iTunes app https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/the-alps-ski-resort-rail-map/id610342489?mt=8
You can also go to Bergeralm on the train (Steinach station) which is only 20 mins from Innsbruck. Looks good from the piste map and an easy 10 minute walk from the station, although I haven't been there yet (lining it up for Monday afternoon - we land Monday morning).
Innsbruck is fantastic - you'll have a great trip!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
